Switch-stand lock



Dec. 28 ,1926.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1926 INVEN'IOR CN'ox ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Dec. 28 192s. mzym c. N. cox

SWITCH STAND LOCK I v Filed. June 11, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll I 7 v z vH I l I Y! w 18 J .I v 1' I25 I J I t :4: O I

% I I INVENTOR AT'TORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

UNITED STATES CHARLES NEWTON COX, OF OROVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

SWITCH-STAND LOCK.

Application filed June 11, 1926.

This invention relates to railroad appara tus, particularly to switchstands, and has for its object the provision of novel means for lockingthe switch lever in the proper position so that positive action on thepart of the switchman will be necessary to throw the switch, it beingconsequently unlikely that anytampering with the mechanism could be doneby unauthorized or mischievous persons.

It is well known that when the switch lever is thrown there isordinarily provided an eye through which it is necessary that theswitchman pass the shackleof a padlock to effect securing, the reverseoperation being followed when it is desired to remove the switch lever.Especially at night, it is in convenient for the switchman to hold a lantern on one arm, the padlock in .one. hand and then fumble with thekeywith the other hand in an endeavor to unlock the stand so that theswitch maybe thrown.

It is with the above factsin view that 1 have designed the presentinvention which has for an important object the provision of a lockingdevice which doesnot need to be touched, the'action being accomplishedmerely by inserting a key in the proper slot and turning it to releasethe lever so that itmaybe moved.

Another object is to provide a lock device of this character in whichthelocking action is effected simply by placing the=parts in a desiredposition and then pressing on a plunger, no key being needed forlocking.

Yet another object is the provision of a device of this character inwhich. guards may be provided on a suitable housing whichqencloses themechanism,- the guards extending 'respeotively over the keyhole and overthe operating plunger to protect the same, it being also contemplatedthat the guards be made of somc material which will be easily seen orpossibly luminous at night soas to guide the switchman properlyv andthereby faciltate the-operation of the mechanism.

An additional object is the provision of an apparatus of this characterwhich will be comparatively simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easyto install or assemble, positive in action, e'tlicient-in'use, durableinservice, and agreatitime and laborsaver as well as a general improvementin the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists-in Serial No. 115,345.

the details of construction, and the arrangement and combination ofelements to behereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view partlyin section andpartly in elevation showing the invention with thelever in one position,

Figure. 2. is a similar view with the lever in the other position,

Figure 3 is a detail section on the line 8.3/of Figure 1,

.Figure 4 is a bottom plan view showing the lock mechanism housingremoved from the stand,

Figure -5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;,

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6--6 oi Figure 5, and

Figures 7 and 8;are detail. views.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, the leter Asfdesignatesaportion of a switch stand having the usual guard plates B notched'at Cformthe accommodation oi the switch lever D21Vhlh is pivoted-at Ewithin, a suit-able :ho-using F: or other supporting structure and whichterminates at one end in aneye G, asL-iscustomary. It is well known thatto effect throwing of the switch it:is necessary to move; the lever D"in one position or the'other andunder necessary circumstances it-hasbeen customary to provide an eye'or staple or hasp co-acting with theeye G for the reception of the shackle of a padlock for effectingsecuring.

In carrying out the present invention,; provide a suitable, housing 10.which is adapted to'be mounted upon the-housing or support F and whichmay vbe constructed in any suitable shape and size and 0tv any propermaterial. Mounted in one end portion of the housing 10 is a socket 11disposed oppositethe eye G of the switch lever and adapted to irec'eiveone :end of a spring pressed" plunger 12 which is slidable through onesideot the housing 10 and which has its outer end carrying. abutton,knob or head 13 whereby it may :be moved. Suitable coil springs 14 areprovided which engage against a collar or projection 15 on the plunger.The plunger,- is of course also slidable through a suitable guide 15which constitutes an abutment from one of the springs 142, the oppositeside of the casing or housing 10 constituting an abutment for the otherspring 14:. The guide 15 has a bore 16 therein alining with the socket11 and the intention is that the plunger be projected through the eye Gof the control lever D when the lever is in its vertical dependingposition as shown in Figure 1. This position is clearly shown in thedetail sectional view of Figure 3.

Slidable within the housing 10 transversely of the direction of theplunger 12 and cooperating therewith and mounted in a suitable guideframe structure 18, is a plunger 19 urged toward the plunger 12 bysuitable springs 20* between which is mounted a grooved collar 21engaged by the forked end 01'' a pivoted lever 22 carried by a sleevemember 23 rotatably mounted upon a stem 2 1 adapted to have engagedthereon a socketed key 25 insertible through a slot 26 in the wall ofthe housing 10. A suitable guard 27 is preferably provided over thiskeyhole slot. The key is represented as having a lateral projection 28thereon adapted to engage the curved end 29 ot a retaining spring member30 which is mounted within the housing 10 and which carries a projection31 acting normally to prevent rotation of the sleeve 23 and movement ofthe collar 21 and plunger 19.

Normally, that is when the lever D is locked, the plunger 12 is in itsinnermost position and passes through the eye G and into the socket 11.At such a time, the collar 15 is located inwardly of the free end of theplunger 19 which therefore acts as a stop to prevent outward movement ofthe plunger 12.

To effect unlocking of the lever, it is merely necessary that theoperator insert the key 25 through the slot 26 and engage it upon thestem 24. lVhen this is done, the lateral extension 28 on the key willengage and depress the curved end 29 of the retaining member 30 so thatthe projection 31 ot the latter will be withdrawn from engagement withthe sleeve 33. hen the key is subsequently turned in a clockwisedirection, the rotation of the key will effect corresponding turningmovement of the stem 24 and sleeve 23 so that the forked lever 22cooperating with the grooved collar 21 will act to retract the-plunger19 from its locking position as disclosed in Figure 7 whereupon the coilspring 14 will act to move the plunger 12 to its outermost position andout of engagement with the eye G of the lever. After the switch leverhas been moved as desired and it is desired to relock it, it is notnecessary to use the key, the only requirement being that the operatorpress upon the head or button 13 and move the plunger 12 inwardlythrough the eye and into the socket 11, the spring pressure on theplunger 19 acting to project it behind the eollar15 into the positionshown in Figure 7. By

making the guards on the housing of aluminum or by coating them withsome luminous material it is obvious that the switchman may seesufliciently that he may perform the necessary manipulations withoutdifiiculty and without having to carry a lantern. Obviously, theelimination of the usual padlock is a great advantage inasmuch as thetime and labor consumed in operating the present device will be greatlycut down. It is really believed that the construction, operation andadvantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art withoutfurther explanation.

l i hile 1 have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make suchchanges in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as will notdepart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

Having thus described the invention, 1 claim 1. lln combination with aswitch stand having a pivoted operating lever provided with an eye,locking means for the lever comprising a spring pressed plunger adaptedto pass through the eye, a second spring pressed plunger movable atright angles to the first named and acting normally to preventretraction thereof, and key operated means for retracting the secondnamed plunger out of cooperative relation to the first named.

2. A locking device for a switch stand embodying a pivoted operatinglever having an eye therein, comprising a housing adapted to be mountedupon the stand, a socket within the housing, a plunger adapted to beinserted through said eye and into said socket, spring means normallyurging said plunger into extended position out of engagement with theeye, a stop element on the plunger. a spring pressed plunger mounted atright angles to the first named and normally engaging behind said stopmember to prevent movement of the first named plunger out of lockedposition, and key operated means for retracting the second namedplunger.

3. A locking device for a switch stand embodying a pivoted operatinglever having an eye therein, comprising a housing adapted to be mountedupon the stand, a socket within the housing, a plunger adapted to beinserted through said eye and into said socket, spring means normallyurging said plunger into extended position out of engagement with theeye, a stop element on the plunger, a. spring pressed plunger mounted atright angles to the first named and normally engaging behind said stopmember to prevent movement of the first named plunger out of lockedposition, and key operated means for retracting the second namedplunger, comprising a grooved collar on the second named plunger, apivoted lever engaging said collar, and a key insertible into thehousing and engageable With the lever for moving the same.

4. A locking device for a switch stand embodying a pivoted operatinglever having an eye therein, comprising a housing adapted to be mountedupon the stand, a socket Within the housing, a plunger adapted to beinserted through said eye and into said socket, spring means normallyurging said plunger into extended position out of engagement with theeye, a stop element on the plunger, a spring pressed plunger mounted atright angles to the first named and normally engaging behind the stopmember to prevent movement of the first named plunger out of lockedposition, and key operated means for retracting the second namedplunger, comprising a grooved collar on the second named plunger, apivoted lever engaging said collar, and a key insertible into thehousing and engageable With the lever for moving the same, a retainingelement normally preventing movement of the forked lever and providedWith means engageable by the key for efi'ecting movement intoinoperative position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES NEWTON 00X.

